New research shows disposable vapes are still in the market
NEW research has thrown the effectiveness of the disposable vape ban into doubt following on from the one year anniversary of its introduction.
According to new research from Merlin Strategies – commissioned by Philip Morris Limited (PML) – more than one third of adults (34%) are continuing to use disposable vapes in the UK with a staggering 74% claiming they still see the devices being used by adults.
Further to this, more than 60% of respondents have claimed they still see children using these illegal vapes.
Peter Nixon, managing director at PML, said: “The government’s ban has been a complete failure. If the UK is serious about getting rid of illegal vapes, then the government needs to stop dragging its feet and support the ban by quickly introducing a watertight licensing scheme and a tough, properly-funded enforcement regime.”
The new survey comes a year after the introduction of the disposable vape ban which made the devices illegal to sell in the UK from 1 June 2025.
The UK Government said the move was made to prevent youth access to the vaping market and to introduce a more circular economy where items are reused more often and valuable items, such as the batteries inside the devices, are not sent to landfill.
However, since then the not-for-profit group Material Focus has reported that 6.3million vape devices were thrown away within the space of a week despite this ban.
The firm has pointed to a lack of information as well as limited access to recycling points for vapes as the key issues behind this matter. Research commissioned by Material Focus found that 43% of those who tried to recycle their vape at a supermarket were not able to find a recycling point.
The number was significantly higher across the convenience store channel at 63%, whereas it dropped considerably at specialist vape retailers where only 33% said they were able to find suitable recycling options within these stores.
Additionally, waste management firms continue to report troubles around incorrectly disposed vaping devices. Biffa has said it continues to receive over 200,000 vape devices every month that have been incorrectly placed in mixed recycling collections, while Veolia said it continues to experience a fire a day in their vehicles and at their waste and recycling centres which they believe is likely caused by the lithium batteries found in these devices.
Material Focus has now called on UK retailers to step up and comply with legislation to ensure that it is as easy to recycle vapes as it is to buy them.
Scott Butler, executive director at Material Focus, said: “Vapes are one of the most environmentally wasteful, damaging and dangerous consumer products ever sold. The ban on disposables was a major move, but a ban on one particular type of vape is not a behaviour change strategy.
“Way too many of them are binned and littered. We have vapers that want to recycle and 67% say they’d be more likely to do so if products were marketed as recyclable. But they are being met with a ‘recycling lottery’. Retailers and producers of vapes have a legal duty to ensure that every vape sold has a clear and visible path to being recycled.”
